Liquid agent dispenser for washing machine



March 21, 1961 M. E. ANDERSON ET AL LIQUID AGENT DISPENSER FOR WASHING MACHINE Filed 000. 31, 1957 a2 a? If: /4

LIQUID AGENT DISPENSER FGR WASHING MAQHENE Maynard E. Anderson, Detroit, Mich, and Lemuel B.

Cooper, Edmonds, Wash, assignors tp American Radiator & Standard Sanitary Qorporatron, New York, N.Y.

Filed on. 31, 1957, Ser. No. 693,725

9 Claims. ((11.222-396) The present invention relates to a dispenser for injecting a liquid into a receptacle, and particularly for use in conjunction with an automatic washing machine. This is an improvement on the invention disclosed in copending application Serial No. 693,724 filed October 31, 1957.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid dispenser for use with a receptacle, said dispenser utilizing' energy from rising liquid in said receptacle to pump a desired quantity of a liquid agent into the receptacle.

' It is still another object of the present invention to provide a liquid dispenser of the foregoing character which is constructed and arranged so that it can inject large volumes of liquids in predetermined amounts without employing expensive pumps, motors, valve units and the like.

It is still another object of the present invention to pro vide a liquid dispenser of the foregoing character which is constructed and arranged so that no moving parts contact the injected liquids thereby avoiding troubles which otherwise would arise because of corrosive propertiesthat such liquids may have or because of their viscous properties or their tendencies to congeal.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a dispenser of the foregoing character which utilizes low pressures and has clean, metered air as the workingv medium, whereby simple seals and valves may be employed.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a dispenser of the foregoing character which provides gradual injection of the liquid agent to assure proper mixing with the water or other liquid being introduced into the receptacle, thereby avoiding damage to fabrics or other materials in the receptacle because of excessive localized concentration of the liquid agent.

Another object of the present invention to provide a dispenser of the foregoing character which is constructed and arranged that when low concentration of the liquid is required, the pumping action will occur at a later period of the liquid filling cycle thereby avoiding too high concentration of the liquid agent during any phase of the filling cycle.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide-a dispenser of the foregoing character wherein a selector knob is provided at a convenient location for selectively determining the quantity of liquid agent to be introduced into the receptacle, and which employs a unique selector valve operatively connected to said selector knob which controls the volume of liquid agent pumped according to the volume of liquid rising in said receptacle.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawing:

The figure of the drawing is a fragmentary vertical secpredetermined volumeof air may be bled therefrom and 2,975,945 Patented Mar. 21, 1.961.

tionshowing'one embodiment of the dispenser operatively positioned adjacent a receptacle such as a laundry tub.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limitedin its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring now to the drawing, a more detailed description of the invention will be given. Any suitable timer such as is employed on automatic washing machines may be used in conjunction with the present invention. A schematic illustration of a suitable timer circuit can be seen in the aforesaid copending application Serial No. 693,724.

A receptacle or washer tube 10 is shown having a variable charge, automatic liquid dispenser 12 mounted adjacent one side. The dispenser 12 has an air chamber 14 formed in its lower portion and a reservoir is formed in its upper portion. A passageway 18 provides liquid communication between the bottom of air chamber 14 and the bottom of receptacle 1%) so that when liquid or water is filled into receptacle 10, such liquid will seek to rise in air chamber 14.

An air passageway 29 extends between the top off air chamber 14- and the upper regions within reservoir 16, whereby air displaced from metering chamber 14 by rising liquid is in eifect pumped into reservoir 16. A solenoid operated air valve 22, shown by way of example, is positioned in passageway 2% so as to control the operation of the dispenser. Other means could be used for actuating the air valve 22. For example an electrically actuated heat motor, characterized by a bi-metallic leaf and a resistance Wire heater, would also be satisfactory. 'lhus, when air valve 22 is open the dispenser will function in a manner to be described more fully hereinafter, and conversely, when air valve 22 is closed, the dispenser is' rendered inoperative for pumping liquid agent.

The reservoir 16 has a fill cap 24 which can be removed for filling an agent such as liquid detergent, liquid bleach, or the like intoreservoir 26. The liquid agent 26 will; be pumped from the reservoir 16 by the action of pressurized air flowing in through air passageway 2i For. this purpose, a dispenser tube or passageway 23 commu nicates between the bottom of reservoir 16 and there-l ceptacle 1d. i One of the features of the present invention is that it. allows the user to vary selectively the amount of liquid agent 26 that is pumped. into receptacle 10 for a. given rise of liquidtherein. This is accomplished by discharg ing air from air chamber 14 to the atmosphere until the rising liquid in receptacle lid reaches a variable pro-se-v lected ,level. Air is then allowed to flow through-air passageway. 2d and displace the liquid agentZfi from reservoirl. Obviously, the more air that is discharged from air chamber 14 to the atmosphere, the less is available for pumping liquid agent '26 from reservoir 16.

The valve means employed for this purpose may include, asshown, a rotary valve element 30 which has a. plurality of vertical ducts 32. Only two are shown, but it will be understood that any number may be employed. Each duct SZ opens at its upper end at the same radial distance from the. axis of valve element 3%. The lower end of each duct opens radially outwardly at different horizontal levels. I I There are other methods for varying the elevation --at; which air is bled from the air chamber l wherebynai allowed to escape to the atmosphere while the remainder of the trapped air is retained for use in the injection process. One other possible means would include a hollow tube slidably'mounted through an aperture in a seal secured to the top of air chamber 14. The tube'could be moved up and down to eifect air bleeding at different levels.

In the illustrated embodiment an air ,bleed'passageway 34 opens into air chamber 14 into communication with whichever duct is in registry therewith The various ducts 32 can be placed selectively in registry with air bleed passageway 34 merely by turning selector knob 36 which is operatively connected to valve element 30 by rod 38.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that proper positioning of valve element 30 will determine when air can be pumped through air passageway 20 for injecting liquid agent 26 into receptacle 10. Thus, when the valve element 30 is in the position shown in the drawing, and assuming air valve 22 is open and that liquid is rising in receptacle 10, pumping action will then be occurring because the rising liquid in the metering chamber has covered the lower end of duct 32 which is in registry with air bleed passageway 34. 'Since this duct 32 is covered, no further bleeding of air will occur, and all additional air displaced from air chamber 14 by the rising liquid must flow up air passageway 20.

If it is desired to shorten the time interval of pumping or injecting liquid agent 26 into the receptacle 10, it is only necessary to rotate the valve element 30, for example, so that the other duct 32 registers with air bleed passageway 34.

Since the lower end of this duct 32 is still above the rising liquid, the bleeding of air will continue until the rising liquid covers the inlet of this duct. This duct 32 having its lower end at a higher elevation will allow more air to be bled from air chamber 14 before anywill be pumped through air passageway 20, and hence, less is available for displacing liquid agent from reservoir 16.

Thus, a simple but very effective control is provided for varying the charge of liquid agent 26 that is injected into receptacle 10. As can be seen, the liquid agent'26 does not come into contact with any moving parts to affect their operation. Furthermore, since the liquid agent is kept in a sealed container it will not readily evaporate or cause clogging of any parts.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. A liquid dispenser for a washing machine comprising means forming a closed air chamber connected in liquid communication with a lower portion of the washer tub of said washing machine, means forming a closed reservoir for a liquid agent adapted to be injected into said tub, an air passageway extending between upper regions in said air chamber and said reservoir by which air can flow from the former into the latter when water flows from the tub into said air chamber, another passageway leading from a lower region of said reservoir into said tub through which liquid agent displaced from said reservoir by the incoming air can flow into said washer tub, and air escape means in said air chamber for al lowing air to escape therefrom to the atmosphere until the water flowing into the air chamber rises to a predetermined level after which the remaining air will begin to flow through the first-named air passageway.

2. A variable charge liquid dispenser for a washing machine comprising means forming a closed air chamber connected in liquid communication with a lower portion of the washer tub of said washing machine, means forming a closed reservoir for a liquid agentadapted to be injected into said tub, an air passageway extending between upper regions in said air chamber and said reservoir by which air can flow from the formerinto the latter when water flows from the tub into said air chamber, another passageway leading from a lower regionof said reservoir into said tub through liquid agent displaced from said reservoir by the incoming air can flow into said washer tub, and means in said air chamber for allowing air to escape therefrom to the atmosphere until the water flowing into the air chamber reaches a variable, selected predetermined level after which the remaining air will begin to fiowthrough the first-named air passageway.

3. A variable charge liquid dispenser for a washing machine comprising means forming a closed air chamber connected in liquid communication with a lower portion of the washer tub of said washing machine, means forming a closed reservoir for a liquid agent adapted to be injected into said tub, an passageway extending between upper regions in said air chamber and said reservoir by which air can flow from the former into the latter when water flows from the tub into said air chamber, another passageway leading from a lower region of said reservoir into said tub through which liquid agent displaced from said reservoir by the incoming air can flow into said washer tub, air valve means in said first-- named air passageway to control the flow of air from said air chamber to said reservoir, air escape means in said air chamber for permitting the escape of air therefrom to the atmosphere only during the period when the water flowing into the air chamber rises to a predetermined level after which the remaining air will begin to flow through the first-named air passageway, and means for selectively varying the effective level of said air escape means so that the volume of air transmitted to said reservoir can be varied for a given rise of water in the tub.

4. A variable charge liquid dispenser for a washing machine comprising means forming a closed air chamber connected in liquid communication with a lower portion of the washer tub of said washing machine, means forming a closed reservoir for a liquid agent adapted to be, injected into said tub, an air passageway extendingbetween upperregions in said air chamber and said reservoir by which air can flow from the former into the latter when water flows from the tub into said air chamber, another passageway leading from a lower region of said reservoir into said tub through which liquid agent displaced from said reservoir by the incoming air can fiow into said washer tub, said air chamber having an air escape port, a valve member having a plurality of duets with outlets adapted to register selectively with said escape port on movement of said member, said ducts having inlets at spaced vertical levels so that selection of 7 the appropriate duct for registry with said escape port will determine the level of which water can rise in said air chamber before additional rising of water will cause air to flow'through the first-named passageway.

5. A variable charge liquid dispenser for a washing machine comprising means forming a closed air chamber connected in liquid communication with a lower portion of the washer tub of said washing machine, means forming a closed reservoir for a liquid agent adapted. to be. injected into said tub, an air passageway extending be tween upper, regions in said air chamber and said reservoir by which air can flow from the former into the latter when water flows from the tub into said. air chamber, another passageway leading from a lower region of said reservoir into said tub through which liquid agent displaced from said reservoir by the incoming air can flow into. said washer tub, said air chamber having an air escape port, a valve member having a plurality of duets with outlets communication with a lower portion of the washer tub of said washing machine, means forming a closed reservoir for a liquid agent adapted to be injected into said tub, an air passageway extending between upper regions in said air chamber and said reservoir by which air can flow from the former into the latter when water flows from the tub into said air chamber, another passageway leading from a lower region of said reservoir into said tub through which liquid agent displaced from said reservoir by the incoming air can flow into said washer tub, and air escape means in said air chamber for allowing air to escape therefrom to the atmosphere until the Water flowing into the air chamber rises to a predetermined level after which the remaining air will begin to flow through the first-named air passageway, and a valve in the first-named passageway for controlling the flow of air to said reservoir from said air chamber.

7. A variable charge liquid dispenser mounted adjacent the side of the tub of a washing machine, said dispenser having a closed air chamber in its lower portion and a closed reservoir in its upper portion, liquid conduit means between the tub and air chamber, an air passageway extending between said air chamber and said reservoir opening into the top of said air chamber and into the upper regions of said reservoir, a solenoid air valve in said passageway for controlling flow of air from said air chamber to said reservoir, a dispensing tube communicating with the lower portion of said reservoir and adapted to extend into said tub for discharging thereinto liquid agent from said reservoir, said dispenser being adapted for mounting adjacent the side of said tub so that as the level of water in said tub rises during a filling operation water will also rise in said air chamber to pump air through said passageway into said reservoir thereby displacing a proportionate amount of liquid agent into said tub and means for varying the effective amount of air that can be pumped from the air chamber to the reservoir.

8. A variable charge liquid dispenser mounted adjacent the side of the tub of a washing machine, said dispenser having a closed air chamber in its lower portion and a closed reservoir in its upper portion, liquid conduit means between the tub and air chamber, an air passageway extending between said air chamber and said reservoir opening into the top of said air chamber and into the upper regions of said reservoir, a solenoid air valve in said passageway for controlling flow of air from said air chamber to said reservoir, a dispensing tube communicating with the lower portion of said reservoir and adapted to extend into said tub for discharging there into liquid agent from 5 said reservoir, said dispenser being adapted for mounting adjacent the side of said tub so that as the level of water in said tub rises during a filling operation water will also rise in said air chamber to pump air through said passageway into said reservoir thereby displacing a proportionate amount of liquid agent into said tub and a valve member for bleeding offpredetermined volumes of the air from said air chamber before air can be pumped to said reservoir, and a selector member on the upper portion of said dispenser and operatively connected to said valve member for varying the amount of bleed-0E of air that will occur.

9. A variable charge liquid dispenser mounted adjacent the side of the tub of a washing machine, said dispenser having a closed air chamber in its lower portion and a closed reservoir in its upper portion, liquid conduit means between the tub and air chamber, an air passageway extending between said air chamber'and said reservoir opening into the top of said air chamber and into the upper regions of said reservoir, a solenoid air valve in said passageway for controlling flow of air from said air chambcr to said reservoir, a dispensing tube communicating with the lower portion of said reservoir and adapted to extend into said tub for discharging thereinto liquid agent from said reservoir, said dispenser being adapted. for mounting adjacent the side of said tub so that as the level of water in said tub rises during a filling operation water will also rise in said air chamber to pump air through said passageway into said reservoir thereby displacing a proportionate amount of liquid agent into said tub, and a rotary valve member positioned in said air chamber and operative to bleed air from said chamber until a predetermined level of water therein is reached, and a selector knob mounted on the top of said reservoir and operatively connected to said rotary valve member for varying the effective position of the latter so that difierent predetermined levels can selectively be set.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 994,431 Unger June 6, 1911 1,615,413 Snyder Jan. 25, 1927 2,228,914 Pierce Jan. 14, 1941 2,351,579 Beckman June 20, 1944 2,598,377 Herrera May 27, 1952 2,812,119 Bethune Nov. 5, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 3,485 Great Britain of 1913 597,267 Great Britain Jan. 22, 1948 

